I should have seen something was up. But, when the dramatic events unfolded I was taken completely by surprise.

It was not a surprise to find everypig was very subdued after I broke the tragic news that that pig-friend and co-patriot Denver Squeaky passed to Rainbow Bridge. Trouble seemed ornerier than usual, and Bandit spent even more quiet time in his towel-tent. Oreo alternated between pacing and running back and forth in her cage. With hindsight, I realize now that I had some sense that a pivotal moment was upon them all.

The next morning, Rocky Roadrunner suddenly showed up at the back window. The three pigs, Rocky and Empire were in huddled meetings most of the day, only taking breaks to send email and use the telephone.

Late that night there must have been more arrivals because I woke up when the front door slammed and I glimpsed a flash of white with black spots (was that Indy?) heading for the pig room. After several more slams, the chattering inside gradually increased to crowd-level but the door remained tightly closed against my curiosity. I spent a restless night with all the noise and commotion in the house but reassured myself that I would get the whole story from them in the morning.

But the next morning they were all gone! I woke to find an empty pig room that was littered like the Stock Exchange after a heavy day of trading. Paper was scattered on the floor, water bottles lay everywhere, and the remnants of what must have been a hay snack covered the furniture. Someone had even gotten into the dog bones and there was a fine trail of crumbs leading away from the closet in the hallway where I keep them and into the pig room. What a mess! And there was no note or other message explaining what was going on. I looked all around the house for clues as to where they might have gone, but all I found were some very strange tire tracks that indicated something heavy had been parked near the house.

Only later, when my wayward crew returned did I learn what happened that day. Rocky was on urgent business when he had appeared at our house – Benjamin Wright Bunny had read Squeaky Pig Pflucker’s will earlier that day and found that Squeaky had left the Pig Power Balloon to the Back Wheek Pigs.

The three pigs were stunned when they heard this from Rocky, because they assumed that the balloon would be inherited by another original Bad Boy. Bandit had quivered at the thought of having the responsibility. "But whee would have to go and pick up passengers from all over the country!" A frown and creased his otherwise cute face. Trouble and Oreo looked at their brother with sympathy. Bandit was known for wanting a lot of towel-tent time. "Yeah" grumbled Trouble. "That’s the sort of thing that would make a crabby pig even crabbier" Rocky smiled at Trouble and replied, "Especially one as well known for ornery as you are, Trouble!"

Oreo looked at each of her two brothers and then at Rocky. "I’ll do it!" she declared. "I’ll be the next Pig Power Captain!"

Jaws dropped. "You? Exclaimed Bandit. "Trouble nodded and said "You’re so young, and aren’t even a Bad Boy!" Oreo shrugged her little shoulders and replied, "show me where it says I have to be!"

Until now, Rocky had been silent. As he looked thoughtfully at each one of the pigs, the feathers on the top of his head slowly rose and fell. "She might be right!" he finally exclaimed. Oreo exclaimed, "HA! And smugly settled back to glare at her brothers. Trouble and Bandit’s eyes widened in surprise. "What?" they both exclaimed. "You are agreeing with her?" Rocky hesitated and then nodded. "Only on one condition" he replied. "We have to get Bad Boy approval first.

Oreo rolled her eyes, "Oh, great!" She said sarcastically. "I finally got my first job and it is down the tubes already!" Bandit and Trouble both stifled their laughter and said, "don’t worry, Oreo, we can get you a job cleaning cages!"

So it was that Rocky called an emergency meeting of the Bad Boys and Arthur and Harley, still mourning their old friend Braveheart, arrived shortly after in Braveheart’s jet. Indy also came to provide security so that none of the discussions were leaked before decisions were made and put into place. Shortly after the jet arrived, a large truck pulled into the driveway and parked near the house. "Who is that?" Indy exclaimed with concern, remembering their last trip to Arizona and their capture by coyotes.

He quietly stole out of the house through the back door and made his way around to the front and scared the daylights out of Benjamin Wright Bunny, Betty, and Ebony Cave Cavy who had arrived with the Pig Power balloon. Ebony promptly buried herself under the truck seat and pulled her furry blanket around her, refusing to come out. "Leave me alone!" she exclaimed. "I’ll stay here until we are ready to go home." Benjamin, Betty and Indy looked at each other and just shook their heads. "You certainly have your hands full, Betty!" Indy said with a smile. Betty just nodded her head in agreement as the group made their way back to the house.

The pig room was in chaos when they entered the room. Harley was saying hotly, "But she doesn’t even know how to fly the balloon!" Arthur nodded his head and replied, "But Squeaky specifically said that it should go to the Back Wheek Pigs. Both Arthur and Harley looked at Bandit and Trouble. Arthur frowned and asked, "You are sure neither of you wants to accept the responsibility of the balloon?" Bandit looked down sheepishly and silently shook his head no. Trouble gave it more thought and finally replied, "I just can’t Arthur. I know the Pig Power Balloon passengers will need someone less ornery than me." Oreo remained silent, but tensed as she waited for the final verdict.

Arthur nodded his understanding and looked at Harley and said with a smile, "if the only thing preventing Miss Oreo from taking over as Captain is that she does not know how to fly the balloon – then I guess we’ll have to teach her how to fly it!" Harley stood and thought about what Arthur had said and nodded in agreement. He looked at his old friend and said, "Arthur, you’ll have teach her. Benjamin has a delivery to make at my house and to be honest with you my friend, I’m not feeling like my old self." Arthur laid a paw on his son in-law’s shoulder and looked at him carefully. A sadness crept into his eyes and he nodded in understanding and said, "God-speed, pal. I’ll tell Mo that you love her. We’ll all be seeing you."

Arthur’s mood lightened as he walked over to Oreo and held one of her paws in the air. "Let me introduce Captain Oreo, the third Captain of the infamous Pig Power Balloon!" For once, Oreo was speechless as the group gave her a rousing cheer.

When the din died down, Indy asked, "What do you need us to do, Arthur?" Arthur replied, "Lets take her out to the Unmanned Arial Vehicle landing zone at Fort Huachuca and begin training. She is going to have to be ready to take on passengers for the Fall Fling next month.

With that, they all piled in the truck and left for Ft. Huachuca. Once there, Harley caught the jet back home and Benjamin drove back to Colorado to drop off Betty and Ebony before driving to Harley’s place with a special delivery from Squeaky’s will.

So, my pigfriends - that is the latest excitement that has transpired here at the Back Wheek Pigs’ house. Empire, Trouble and Bandit returned late the next evening but Oreo stayed out on the landing zone with Arthur and Indy for several days during an intense Balloon Training qualification. By the time they returned to the house, the pig world was learning the sad news that their dear friends Charlie of the Chompers and Harley had both departed for Rainbow Bridge.